January 17th, 2011
by Diana T.
I’ve had Cuddle plush on the brain since last week! We’ve been working on our order (so many colors, so little shelf space!) and placed it TODAY so I figured now is as good a time as any to show you what my kid did over Christmas vacation.
Yes, my kid taught her 12lb Siberian cat, (by way of wrapping her up over and over again in the Cuddle blanket) to make a nest and burrow in good!
What, exactly do you do when you and your spouse are greeted by the sight of the cat trenched into the Cuddle Blankie? Get out the camera and start thinking of blog titles, of course!
The possibilities included:
Cuddle Plush – it’ s not just for nap time anymore!
Cuddle Plush – it’s not just for kids!
(as well as one or two others not fit for publishing!)
We settled on “Cat Commandeers Cuddle!”
(New Cuddle arrives this week. Stop in on Saturday and check it out!)
Cats, New Arrivals | 
1 Comment »
January 16th, 2011
by Diana T.
We had the good, good fortune last week to
enjoy a presentation from Esterita Austin!
The terrific members of the Quilter’s Guild of Plano had engaged her
for their January meeting presentation and workshop.
Lucky me – I have an ‘in’ (Thanks, Donna!) so I was able to enjoy
this talented lady’s work and words of wisdom!
Want to see more of Esterita’s work? Click her link:
Thanks also to Mindy M. for sharing her pics with me!
Quilting, Special Guest! | No Comments »
December 3rd, 2010
by Diana T.
Ten days since my surgery and since I’ve been into work. Today, I’ll venture forth and let you know if the place is still standing or if they’ve sold everything and taken off for Jamaica!
Ch..ch..ch..changes | No Comments »
December 2nd, 2010
by Diana T.
Yeah, just kidding! I’ve always wanted to say that!
I had heart surgery last week to fix a leaking valve so this is probably the only time EVER that I can use that line!
Part I:
The whole surgery thing came up fairly quickly – the valve started leaking a few years ago but I wasn’t a candidate for repair until it got ”bad enough”. And that happened a couple of months ago!
Over Thanksgiving I enjoyed a weeks stay in the hospital – (Baylor Heart Hospital in Plano - top-notch!) - we called it the “heart spa” because it’s all about attitude, right? I had my valve repaired and also had plenty of time for meditation and personal introspection (aka sleep!).
A few of the things I discovered:
Ice chips are better than ice cubes. They just are. And anything goes down better though a straw.
It’s ok to shower sitting down; it helps to think of yourself as Cleopatra while you do so.
I haven’t missed anything being without cable t.v. these last 12 years (although I did find Simmons Family Jewels rawther amusing!)
It IS possible to watch too much of the Food Network.
Sorry. It is.
Our Chemo Cuddle Blankets aren’t just good for Chemo patients. They’re good for heart patients. And mothers of heart patients. They’re just the right size while sprawled on the recliner or sofa in the patients room.
Part II:
Before all the surgery stuff started, Sam and I had been meditating on a shift in business gears. We love the store but it’s a lot of work! And we’re getting old (me, not Sam, naturally!). And we just don’t have the time to do the stuff that got us started in this biz to begin with – creating, stitching, imagining, sharing…we’ve ended up in the admin side and sorry, it’s just not that much fun!
So we’re shifting gears, selling off most of the inventory and getting back to basics of creating and teaching. Starting in January, the store won’t be open every day anymore. Yep, we’ll still be here, the phone still works, you can email me, but we won’t be tied to the cash register anymore. We might decide to go home at 4:30pm or stay home on a Monday!
We’ll still have our regular monthly classes (like 2nd Sat., of course!) and Block of the Month Clubs (Rose of Sharon starts in Jan!). Bear with me – the calendar is a little slow going because I just had heart surgery A WEEK AGO!
AND..we’ll also have a much smaller selection of fabrics - we only want to give you the newest and the brighest choices out there. (We like to hear you say ”Ooh! Ahh!” and never “Oh! I remember when THAT came out!” when we’re together in the workshop!)
Ok, so there’s more but it will have to wait for another post! Thanks for all of your good wishes and thoughts - I’m taking my naps, eating my Wheaties and look forward to seeing you all soon!
Diana T 
Ch..ch..ch..changes, Surgery | 1 Comment »
November 27th, 2010
by sam
OMG!!! That’s “Gosh” folks. The plush came in and a lot of it has went out – fast. We have a new strip quilt kit in a wonderful willow green. I was a doubter (the picture in the catalogue didn’t show a very pretty green) but Diana kept saying – oh, but the green is really nice. Well she was right!!!!! While I’m not much for greens – you can bet before it’s all over I’m going to have one of these lovelies for myself.
I’ve been thinking of all the colors and patterns of Shannon Plush I saw at Market last month and I’m having a brain tornado thinking of all the things I can make out of those super soft fabrics. Patterns are piling up in the right side of my brain just waiting for the left side to put them on paper. (Or is it the other way around)? Which ever, we are going to have some really exciting projects in the next few weeks and months.
I wonder how many of you still have projects to finish before the Holidays. A quick and easy way to add applique to a store bought item, or one you have made is with a fusible process. A great many of you are a bit put off by this raw edge technique because it can leave a ragged edge. Here is a great tip for those of you who haven’t picked this up in our shop. Use a #8 needle in your sewing machine and a very thin thread. I love #100 silk thread and the new invisible thread is great too. Both of these threads will go through a #8 needle just fine. Any needle larger than a #8 will “chew up” the raw edge of your fused fabric, but the #8 needle won’t. Give it a try – I bet you’ll like it.
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. I know I was extremely greatful on Thursday — greatful I hadn’t made a New Years Resolution last January to make gifts for everyone on my Christmas list.
Back next week — Sam
Uncategorized | No Comments »
November 15th, 2010
by Diana T.
Market was two weeks ago and we’re waiting for our plush order. Waiting patiently….
But it’s hard to wait! Already we have had customers calling, ready to create! They just need their plush!
I, too, have visions – of scarves and shoulder totes made with the new colors and textures; of gifts for giving, with the holidays on the way! One bolt on order is called “Ice Cream Plush”. Sounds pretty terrific, doesn’t it?? Wait until you see it!
Never fear! Our rep Debra, at Shannon, walked to the warehouse this morning – we’re packed and ready to go! Our boxes should arrive this week!
But the waiting is the hardest part, isn’t it?
More soon!
New Arrivals | 2 Comments »
November 14th, 2010
by Diana T.
One day not too very long ago, Sam stopped into my office and said “What do you think about a blog?”
(Hey! I’ve wanted to do a blog for a while but with everything that happens around here, I don’t have much time to devote to a blog.
And I hadn’t been thinking of a work-related blog because with two businesses, work is all we do! If I were planning to blog, obviously there would be plenty of quilt stuff included but I would want to write about MYSELF! My life, my musings….my musings on life…
And quite frankly, that’s not something I would necessarily wish on the innocent passerby. If we’ve never met…suffice to say that I (and every member of my family) have never been at a loss for words.
Never.
But I digress…)
So we researched, we brainstormed and here we are, with our very first TQW post!
I’m jazzed because I’ll never run out of things to tell you and show you – new product, new pattern ideas and some of the stuff that happens around here…just trust me, I have no shortage of material!
I’m also apprehensive because what if I only have Homer Simpson moments (“Doh!”) and never a Sally Field moment (“You like me! You really like me!”)?
(Yeah, it will be ok! Stay tuned – there’s more to come!)
Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
